BUCKLE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a safety device; and more particularly to a buckle for use in a safety harness.

Description of Related Art

It is known that full-body safety harnesses in the market are used to prevent users from falling from heights while participating in activities such as rock climbing or working at heights, thereby ensuring the stability of the users during aerial movement.

A typical full-body safety harness includes two shoulder straps, two abdominal straps, and a buckle. The buckle is connected to the two abdominal straps and is fastened at the chest of a user. A D-ring is usually provided between each shoulder strap and each abdominal strap, and the D-ring serves as a chest suspension point for the full- body safety harness. The D-ring is for connecting an ascender, a descender, or a lanyard.

Currently, the shoulder straps and the abdominal straps are typically sewn to the respective D-rings. However, sewing the D-rings to the full-body safety harness not only increases the manufacturing steps but also weaken the ability of both of the shoulder straps and the abdominal straps to support the body of the user. Additionally, when the user falls, a shock force generated by braking is directly transmitted to the chest and the spine through the D-rings fastened by sewing to simultaneously compress the muscles of the chest and the back, making self-rescue difficult for the fallen user. Therefore, developing a buckle that integrates a D-ring and enhances safety and comfort during wearing a safety harness is an urgent problem to be solved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a buckle for connecting a safety harness, which could enhance safety and comfort when wearing the safety harness.

The present invention provides a buckle including a first buckle part, a second buckle part, a connecting section, and a receiving section. The first buckle part has a first body and a ring body, wherein the ring body is pivotally connected to the first body and is rotatable around a rod body. The second buckle part is for releasably connecting to the first buckle part and has a second body. The connecting section extends along an insertion direction. The receiving section is for accommodating the connecting section. The receiving section is disposed on either the first body or the second body, and the connecting section is disposed on the other of the second body and the first body. An angle between the rod body of the first buckle part and the insertion direction is less than 90 degrees.

The advantage of the present invention lies in the design where the ring body is pivotally connected to the first body. When the ring body serves as a suspension point for the safety harness, the ring body could rotate around the rod body in response to external forces from different directions. This ensures that a user maintains body stability while moving at heights, thereby enhancing the safety and comfort during wearing the safety harness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention would be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the buckle, showing the first buckle part is detached from the second buckle part according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top schematic view of the buckle, showing the first buckle part is detached from the second buckle part according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top schematic view of the buckle, showing the first buckle part is connected to the second buckle part according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom schematic view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of the buckle according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional schematic view along the A-A line in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the buckle according to the embodiment of the present invention is in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A buckle of the present invention is used for connecting to a safety harness. A buckle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and includes a first buckle part 10 and a second buckle part 20, wherein the first buckle part 10 could releasably connect to the second buckle part 20. The first buckle part 10 has a first body 12 and a ring body 14. The first body 12 has a first periphery 12a and a connecting periphery 12b that are adjacent to each other. The ring body 14 is pivotally connected to the first body 12 and is located near the first periphery 12a of the first body 12. A first fastening section 18 is disposed on the first body 12 and is located near a periphery opposite to the connecting periphery 12b, wherein the first fastening section 18 is adapted to connect to a webbing (not shown). A connecting section 40 is disposed on the connecting periphery 12b of the first body 12, wherein the connecting section 40 extends from the connecting periphery 12b along an insertion direction D. The second buckle part 20 has a second body 22, wherein the second body 22 has a receiving periphery 22a. A receiving section 30 is disposed on the receiving periphery 22a of the second body 22 and is for accommodating the connecting section 40. A second fastening section 24 is disposed on the second body 22 and is located near a periphery opposite to the receiving periphery 22a, wherein the second fastening section 24 is adapted to connect to another webbing (not shown). When the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30, the connecting periphery 12b of the first body 12 abuts against the receiving periphery 22a of the second body 22.

In the current embodiment, the connecting section 40 is disposed on the first body 12 and the receiving section 30 is disposed on the second body 22. In other embodiments, the connecting section 40 could also be disposed on the second body 22 and the receiving section 30 could also be disposed on the first body 12.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first body 12 has an axial hole 12d penetrating the first body 12 along the insertion direction D. The axial hole 12d is located near the first periphery 12a of the first body 12. The first buckle part 10 has a rod body 16. The rod body 16 has a body section 16b and two head sections 16a connected to two ends of the body section 16b, wherein an outer diameter of each of the head sections 16a is greater than an outer diameter of the body section 16b. The body section 16b passes through the axial hole 12d of the first body 12 and two through holes 14a at two free ends of the ring body 14. A surface of each of the head sections 16a close to the body section 16b abuts against an outer surface of each of the free ends of the ring body 14. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring body 14 could rotate along a rotation direction R around the rod body 16. Thus, when the ring body 14 serves as a suspension point and is connected to an ascender, a descender, or a lanyard, the ring body 14 could rotate in response to external forces at different directions, ensuring that a user maintains the stability while moving at heights.

As shown in FIG. 2, an angle between the rod body 16 of the first buckle part 10 and the insertion direction D is equal to 0 degrees. In other words, the rod body 16 is parallel to the insertion direction D. Therefore, when the ring body 14 is pivotally connected to the first body 12 through the rod body 16 and serves as the suspension point for a safety harness, the buckle 100 could ensure the safety of the user.

In the current embodiment, the ring body 14 is C-shaped. In other embodiments, the ring body 14 might also be arc-shaped or polygonal.

In the current embodiment, the angle between the rod body 16 of the first buckle part 10 and the insertion direction D is equal to 0 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle between the rod body 16 and the insertion direction D could be less than 90 degrees. In still another embodiment, the angle between the rod body 16 and the insertion direction D could be less than or equal to 30 degrees. In this way, when the ring body 14 is pivotally connected to the first body 12 through the rod body 16 and serves as the suspension point for the safety harness, the design of the angle between the rod body 16 and the insertion direction D avoids uneven distribution of an upward pulling force applied to the ring body 14, thereby ensuring that the user maintains stability while moving at heights.

Referring to FIG. 2, the connecting section 40 has a first tongue 42 and a second tongue 44 that partially overlap each other. The second tongue 44 is sheet-shaped, and an end of the second tongue 44 is connected to the connecting periphery 12b of the first body 12. The second tongue 44 extends along the insertion direction D. A surface of the second tongue 44 is connected to a first top surface 12c of the first body 12. Another surface of the second tongue 44 opposite to the first top surface 12c overlaps with the first tongue 42. The first tongue 42 is sheet-shaped, and an end of the first tongue 42 is connected to the connecting periphery 12b of the first body 12. The first tongue 42 extends along the insertion direction D. The first tongue 42 has, in sequence from the first body 12 to the second body 22 along the insertion direction D, a connecting member 422 and an abutting member 424. The connecting member 422 of the first tongue 42 overlaps with the another surface of the second tongue 44. The abutting member 424 of the first tongue 42 protrudes from the second tongue 44.

In other words, the first tongue 42 of the connecting section 40 has a first tongue length L1 along the insertion direction D, and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 has a second tongue length L2 along the insertion direction D. The first tongue length L1 is greater than the second tongue length L2. Moreover, the abutting member 424 of the first tongue 42 has a width in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D, and the connecting member 422 of the first tongue 42 has a width in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D. The width of the abutting member 424 is greater than the width of the connecting member 422.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the receiving section 30 has a first accommodating groove 32 and a second accommodating groove 34. The second accommodating groove 34 is disposed on the receiving periphery 22a of the second body 22 and penetrates a second top surface 22b of the second body 22. A side wall of the second accommodating groove 34 is connected to the second top surface 22b. The second accommodating groove 34 forms a second space S2 for accommodating the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40, and an outer contour of the second tongue 44 matches a contour of the second accommodating groove 34. The first accommodating groove 32 is disposed between the second top surface 22b and a second bottom surface 22c of the second body 22. The first accommodating groove 32 forms a first space S1 for accommodating the first tongue 42 of the connecting section 40. The first space S1 of the first accommodating groove 32 communicates with the second space S2 of the second accommodating groove 34. When the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30 along the insertion direction D, a periphery of the abutting member 424 of the first tongue 42 abuts against an arcuate sidewall of the first accommodating groove 32 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. Moreover, the design where the outer contour of the second tongue 44 matches the contour of the second accommodating groove 34 ensures that a periphery of the second tongue 44 fits against a sidewall of the second accommodating groove 34. Therefore, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 are securely accommodated in the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 6, the receiving section 30 further includes a positioning module 36. The positioning module 36 could move between a first position P1 and a second position P2. As shown in FIG. 2, when the positioning module 36 is located at the first position P1, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 could be respectively inserted into the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, when the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30 and the positioning module 36 is located at the second position P2, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 are respectively fixed in the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30; therefore, the connecting section 40 could not be detached from the receiving section 30. When the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30 and the positioning module 36 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 could be respectively detached from the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the positioning module 36 has two fasteners 362 and two elastic members 364. The two fasteners 362 are respectively located on two sides of the first accommodating groove 32 in the first space S1. Each of the fasteners 362 is sheet-shaped and has a limiting end 362a, an operation end 362b, and a middle section 362c connected to both of the limiting end 362a and the operation end 362b, wherein the middle section 362c is pivotally connected to the first accommodating groove 32, so that each of the fasteners 362 could move between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Each of the limiting ends 362a is accommodated in the first space S1 of the first accommodating groove 32. Each of the operation ends 362b protrudes from the first space S1 to an exterior of the second body 22 to allow an external force to be applied. The first accommodating groove 32 forms two accommodating holes 366 corresponding to positions of the fasteners 362. The elastic members 364 are located between the second top surface 22b and the second bottom surface 22c of the second body 22 and are respectively disposed in the two accommodating holes 366. Each of the elastic members 364 is a spring. A sidewall of each of the accommodating holes 366 is connected to the arcuate sidewall of the first accommodating groove 32. An end of each of the elastic members 364 is fixed in the each of the accommodating holes 366. The other end of each of the elastic members 364 protrudes into the first space S1 of the first accommodating groove 32.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30 and the positioning module 36 is located at the second position P2, the limiting ends 362a of the fasteners 362 respectively clamp two opposite peripheries of the first tongue 42 of the connecting section 40. In other words, the limiting end 362a of each of the fasteners 362 clamps a junction of the connecting member 422 and the abutting member 424 of the first tongue 42. Simultaneously, the other end of each of the elastic members 364 protruding into the first space S1 of the first accommodating groove 32 abuts against a periphery of the limiting end 362a of each of the fasteners 362. Therefore, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 could be respectively fixed in the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30, thereby ensuring that the connecting section 40 could not be detached from the receiving section 30. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, when the connecting section 40 is accommodated in the receiving section 30, applying the external force in a direction away from the second body 22 (towards the first body 12) to the operation end 362b of each fastener 362 results in the movement of the positioning module 36 from the second position P2 to the first position P1. Simultaneously, the limiting end 362a of each of the fasteners 362 moves from the junction of the connecting member 422 and the abutting member 424 toward each of the accommodating holes 366, so that the periphery of the limiting end 362a of each of the fasteners 362 compresses each of the elastic member 364. Therefore, the first tongue 42 and the second tongue 44 of the connecting section 40 could be respectively detached from the first accommodating groove 32 and the second accommodating groove 34 of the receiving section 30.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the buckle 100 is used with a safety harness W, the first top surface 12c of the first body 12 and the second top surface 22b of the second body 22 face toward the user, and the buckle 100 is located at the chest of the user. A webbing K of the safety harness W is threaded through the first fastening section 18 of the first buckle part 10, and another webbing K of the safety harness W is threaded through the second fastening section 24 of the second buckle part 20. Therefore, the buckle 100 is securely connected to the safety harness W.

It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.